Final answer:
In nearly every state, presidential candidates win electoral college votes through a winner-takes-all system, with Maine and Nebraska being the exceptions where the congressional district method applies.
Step-by-step explanation:
In nearly every state, presidential candidates win electoral college votes through a winner-takes-all system. In this system, the candidate who receives the most votes in a state's general election in November is awarded all of that state's electoral votes. There are only two exceptions to this rule: Maine and Nebraska. These states employ a slightly different method known as the congressional district method, where a candidate winning a congressional district is awarded one electoral vote for that district while the overall state winner receives additional electoral votes. However, most American elections operate under the plurality rule, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not secure an absolute majority.